In Quebec, considering the high prevalence rate of mental health disorder and the scarcity of psychiatrists, general practitioners (GPs) hold an importante role in the management and the follow-up of mental health care.
In the context of the ongoing mental health system reform aimed at reinforcing collaboration between GPs, psychiatrists and mental health teams, our objectives are to have a better understanding of clinical practice and collaborative practice, developed by GP and their assessment of working tools and quality of mental health services, in order to improve the complementary of primary mental health care.
The study was carried out using a cross-sectional design, involving 1415 GPs from nine Quebec territories. The final sample included 398 GPs, representing diverse practice places, and the response rate was 41%.
The study highlighted that GPs have different clinical and collaboration practices according to the seriousness of mental disorder patients seen, i.e. transient and moderate mental disorder (TMMD) or serious and permanent mental disorder (SPMD); and GPs strongly support care coordination efforts with all mental health professionals.
Therefore, it appears important to reinforce GP accessibility to other mental health professionals, particularly psychiatrists, and to inform them on the presence of all actors in mental health in their territory, in order to develop collaboration and quality of primary mental healthcare.